Our Story – FrogCube

Welcome to FrogCube Limited

It all started with poison dart frogs of the thumbnail variety. Amazing little creatures, that require very small live food such as fruit flies and a high humidity environment. These guys didn't handle plastic tanks well since they often leached volatile chemicals. So they needed a glass terrarium at least ten gallons in size for a pair.

PLA is a plastic made from corn starch. By 3D printing kits with this biodegradable material, it provided the opportunity to take aquariums and modify them for terrestrial life. Front opening hinged system made the most sense, as it allow options such as adding misting assemblies, air circulation systems, and the ability to place lights directly above.

Utilizing aquarium silicone to adhere the kit to the lip of the plastic aquarium frame and close any holes, a terrarium can be made fruit fly proof. Only larva and mites can escape through the mesh vents. Aquarium silicone is also used to secure the glass substrate dam and the hinges to the glass door.

How FrogCube Limited got started.

DIY Revolution

I have always been someone interested in building and designing. And when 3D printers came along I knew there was an opportunity there to revolutionize terrarium design. Prior to their availability I spent quite a bit of time making terrariums with 1/8″ or 1/4″ glass and silicone. I’d test different ways to build doors that limited fruit flies escaping into the house and infesting our kitchen.

As 3D printers started becoming something new to invest in, I soon developed large systems for printing kits. However these systems didn’t always work right and the printing systems were imperfect, making more that were broken than worked. Over time I tested different design and methods until I settled on the current version that offered a mesh screen over ventilation openings and ports for additional tools like misting assemblies and air circulation systems.